Thursday, December 30, 2010

As we approach New Years Eve, the holiday season is almost over so we look forward to a big 2011, with plenty of fantastic rugby action coming up as well as a few big changes on RD. For now, here's the next in the popular History of Rugby series.

It's been a slow few weeks in terms of fresh content on Rugbydump, but family visits and festive banter is now all but over, so the site will be back in business shortly, with daily updates and the best clips from around the world brought to you regularly.

In 2011 we've got the World Cup in New Zealand, so before we look forward, lets take a look back to the last time the All Blacks won the tournament, in 1987. We also get to see the 1991 tournament, when the Wallabies won the first of their two titles.

Two great captains, David Kirk and Nick Farr Jones, lifted the trophies in '87 and '91 respectively, and obviously going into 2011 we're all wondering if the host nation, led by Richie McCaw, can break the long drought for the Kiwis.

Following this post, we'll keep the series coming as other parts are posted over time. Have a watch and feel free to discuss your predictions for next years tournament. Can New Zealand handle the pressure at home, or will it be another of the top ranked sides that manages to shatter the dream for the host nation?

there's been tons of rugby on recently and i was hoping there might be some highlights on my favourite highlight site. but there hasn't been. i live in new zealand so heineken cup matches are hard to come by and i usually get highlights on rd.

Watching this video makes me wish I were old enough (being 23) to have witnessed the beautiful rugby played during that time. It was before the silly stuff that has come about due to professionalism, but still amazing rugby played by some of the best players to ever see the pitch.

Good to watch these old clips and remember why I got into rugby in the first place. As usual though the vid is so Anglo-Centric (even though it is called "the history of rugby"). Why does everyone support whoever is playing against england? Your honour - exhibit A

Gotta agree with Orange, the switch to professionalism was a deal as Faustian as they come. Rugby's been simmered down to nothing more than another canvas for advertising to be sploshed all over.

Think of the demise of rugby as just an externality in the pursuit of the absurd; infinite growth. With Christmas just having passed, it's comforting to know that our sport may have played some part in convincing somebody to buy shit noone needs with money they don't have. Happy New Year!

Strange choices of clips in some cases there, I don't think any show games that don't involve a NH team.

Instead of showing some of the sensational All Blacks/Wallabies semi from the '91 world cup (Campese over-the-shoulder pass, and then turning Kirwan inside out to score), we see the other semi of which the highlight appears to be a drop-goal.